I’ve been in my current field for 30 years. It’s a small community and just about everyone knows my name and my reputation. I could get prominent tattoo and I don’t think it would affect my job prospects.
On the other hand, if I’m right out of college and I got a tattoo of something other than 82nd Airborne or USMC or USS Ronald W Reagan, then that tat is going to hurt my prospects of getting in the door.
And the stupider the tattoo the better chance I won’t be getting a call back.
I was at the beach yesterday and just about everyone over 18 and under 30 had some trite tattoo, whether it be a cartoon character or some trite proverb or a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe (this is Mexi-California), whatever.
There were also some guys with gang tattoos. Generally Gang Tattoos are there so you can’t ever get a real job. Once you are in the gang, you work for the gang - you don’t quit and go flip hamburgers at McDonalds or go on to become an accountant. You get out when you check out.
For what it’s worth, it didn’t prevent my being promoted to this position.
I agree that tattoos may not be a great idea, depending on context and content. My issue is with the blanket judgement that anyone who has a tattoo is irresponsible or a criminal.